Angelina Jolie Visits Syrian Refugees in Turkey

By Associated Press on June 17, 2011

ALTINOZU, Turkey – U.N. envoy Angelina Jolie traveled to Turkey's border with Syria on Friday to meet some of the thousands of Syrian refugees who have fled their government's bloody crackdown on dissent.

The Hollywood celebrity and goodwill ambassador for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees arrived in the Turkish province of Hatay on a private jet with boxes of toys for the refugee camps.

There are nearly 10,000 Syrian refugees in camps inside Turkey.

DHA television showed Jolie disembarking from the plane in sunglasses. The actress rested at Hatay airport and then headed to a camp in the Turkish town of Altinozu, Turkish media reported.

Turkish authorities hoisted a 45-foot-long (15-meter) banner near the entrance of a refugee camp to welcome Jolie. It read: "Goodness Angel of the World, Welcome" in English and Turkish.

Police kept fans away from the actress at Hatay's airport and cameras were removed from rooftops and high points to prevent video of the visit.

One fan held a poster that read: "Angelina, kiss me for world peace."

Authorities said Jolie's own crew would provide images of her meetings with refugees.

In April, Jolie traveled to Tunisia during its refugee crisis as thousands fled from its war-torn neighbor, Libya.